Puzzle.



G. E. DOWD.

PUZZLE. v APPLIO'A-TION FILED HAY 23. 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1 911.

cu.. wAsNlNaroN. u. c.

CHARLES E. DOWD, OF WEST MEDWAY, MASSACHUSETTS.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application led May 23, 1910. Serial No. 562,946.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Down, citizen of the United States, residing at Test Medway, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gaine apparatus, and more particularly to that variety of game apparatus wherein a receptacle is used formed on its inner face with a pocket, or pockets, rolling members such as marbles being contained within the receptacle, and the receptacle being so manipulated as to deposit the pieces or marbles in the proper' pockets.

The object of my invention is to provide a game of this character in which the difliculty of properly placing the pieces in the pockets is much increased by reason of the peculiar shape of the receptacle, and the peculiar shape of the rolling pieces used therewith.

.My invention is shown in the accompany- .ing drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form y of 'my game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal diametrical section through the longer axis of the receptacle shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan View of another form of my game apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of another form of my device.

Referring to these gures, 2 designates a concavo-convex receptacle approximately ovoid in plan and preferably having the form of one-half of an egg. The bottom of the receptacle isl formed with a recess 3 in which the rolling pieces 4 are to be placed by manipulation. These rolling pieces 4 have also an ovoid shape.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another form of the device wherein the receptacle 2, formed as previously described, is provided with a plurality of recesses 5 arranged in any suitable manner upon the bottom of the receptacle, and each adapted to contain one of the rolling pieces 4. It will be seen that the depression, or depressions, formed in the bottom of the receptacle correspond in shape to the form of the receptacle itself, and that in turn the pieces 4 also correspond in shape to the form of the receptacle.

On account of the peculiar ovoid shape of the receptacle, and the peculiar ovoid shape of the rolling pieces 4, it will be obvious that considerable difliculty will be experienced in so manipulating the shell or receptacle 2 as to deposit these pieces within the depressions 3 or 5. The rolling pieces 4 on account of their peculiar shape will not roll in straight lines, and thel eccentricity of their movement is added to by the ovoid shape of the interior of the receptacle. It is hence extremely difficult to place the rolling pieces in the depressions, and particularly difficult to place them in the three depressions shown in the form illustrated in Fig. 3.

I do not wish to confine myself to the exact form of the receptacle shown, nor to the exact disposition of the pockets or depressions, as it is obvious that their positions may be changed as desired, either to increase or decrease the difficulty of the game without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be obvious that by reason of the harmon f existing between the shape of the receptacie and the form of the rolling pieces, that a very attractive game apparatus is made, and which is particularly appropriate for certain seasons of the year, as for instance Easter.

lVhat I claim is:

A game apparatus comprising a substantially concave-convex receptacle semi-ovoid in shape and having a plurality of depressions formed in Vits inner surface, said depressions being also semi-ovoid in shape, and a plurality of substantially ovoid rolling bodies disposed within the receptacle and adapted to be caught in said depressions upon a manipulation of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I afhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. DOVD.

Witnesses HENRY E. MADDEN, GEORGE S. BENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

